Expanding pin assembly controlled by actuator for locking and unlocking mechanical joint

ABSTRACT

An expanding pin system is described that can provide automated and/or power controlled locking and unlocking of an expanding pin assembly in a mechanical joint. For example, the expanding pin system can include an actuation assembly that includes a single actuator (e.g., motor) to control an expanding pin assembly for locking and unlocking a mechanical joint.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of patentapplication Ser. No. 15/587,945, filed on May 5, 2017 and entitled“EXPANDING PIN ASSEMBLY CONTROLLED BY ACTUATOR FOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKINGMECHANICAL JOINT,” which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to an expanding pin assemblythat is controlled by an actuation assembly for releasably locking amechanical joint.

BACKGROUND

Expanding pins can be used, for example, to releasably lock a mechanicaljoint. The releasable aspect of the expanding pin can be useful formechanical joints that are not intended to be permanently locked. Forexample, an aircraft having a deployable wing can benefit from the useof an expanding pin at a wing joint to allow the deployable wing to bedeployed, such as for flying the aircraft, and retracted, such as forstorage of the aircraft. Currently available expanding pins requiremanual labor to insert and expand an expanding pin to thereby lock amechanical joint, as well as require manual labor to collapse andretract the expanding pin to thereby unlock the mechanical joint. Forexample, a user can use a tool and/or integrated cam lock mechanism tolock and unlock the expanding pin in the mechanical joint. Such userinteraction can be cost and time inefficient, as well as introduce humanerror.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the current subject matter can include various embodiments ofan expanding pin system for releasably locking a mechanical jointassociated with a deployable wing of an aircraft to thereby releasablysecure the deployable wing in a deployed position. In one aspect, theexpanding pin system can include an actuation assembly configured toprovide a first output for locking the mechanical joint and a secondoutput for unlocking the mechanical joint. The expanding pin system canfurther include a pin driving assembly operably coupled to the actuationassembly. The pin driving assembly can include a drive assembly having acarrier operably coupled to the actuation assembly and an outer housingsuch that the carrier translates a first distance along the housing whenthe actuation assembly is actuated to provide the first output. Thedrive assembly can further include a sun gear operably coupled to thecarrier such that the sun gear is caused to rotate in a first directionafter the carrier translates the first distance. The pin drivingassembly can further include an expanding pin assembly operably coupledto the drive assembly such that the expanding pin assembly can translatethe first distance with the drive assembly thereby advancing anexpandable part of the expanding pin assembly across at least a part ofthe mechanical joint. The expandable part can be caused to expand whenthe sun gear rotates in the first direction.

In some variations one or more of the following features can optionallybe included in any feasible combination. The sun gear can be configuredto rotate in a second direction when the actuation assembly is actuatedto provide the second output to thereby cause the expandable part tocontract. The carrier can be configured to translate along the housingthereby causing the expandable part to retract from the mechanical jointwhen the actuation assembly is actuated to provide the second output.

In some implementations, the actuation assembly can include one or moreof a DC brush motor, a DC brushless motor, a stepper motor, an AC motor,and a rotary hydraulic actuator. The outer housing can include an innerchamber with an inner wall that is threadably engaged with a ring gearpositioned around a distal end of the carrier such that rotation of thecarrier causes rotation of the ring gear. Furthermore, rotation of thering gear can cause translation of the drive assembly and the expandingpin assembly relative to the outer housing. The pin driving assembly canfurther include a detent feature that, when in an engaged position, isoperatively coupled to both the drive assembly and the expanding pinassembly to thereby restrict translation of the expanding pin assemblyrelative to the drive assembly. The detent feature, when in a disengagedposition, can be uncoupled from the drive assembly to thereby allowtranslation of the expanding pin assembly relative to the driveassembly. The pin driving assembly can further include a plunger that isbiased in a distal position within the pin driving assembly therebycausing the detent feature to be in the engaged position, and whereinthe plunger causes the detent feature to be in the disengaged positionwhen forced in a proximal position. The housing can further include apin aligned with a distal end of the plunger. The pin can be configuredto force the plunger from the distal position to the proximal positionwhen the pin driving assembly engages the pin during distal translationof the pin driving assembly.

In some implementations, the expanding pin assembly can further includea shear pin that is rotationally restricted and threadably engaged withthe sun gear such that rotation of the sun gear causes translation ofthe shear pin. The expandable part can be positioned along a distal endof the shear pin. Translation of the shear pin in a proximal directionrelative to the sun gear can cause the expandable part to expand andtranslation of the shear pin in a distal direction relative to the sungear can cause the expandable part to contract. The expandable part caninclude one or more bushings.

In another interrelated aspect of the current subject matter, a methodof an expanding pin system coupled to a mechanical joint associated witha deployable wing of an aircraft is described. The method can includeactuating an actuation assembly of the expanding pin system to provide afirst output, and the actuation assembly can be operatively coupled to apin driving assembly of the expanding pin system that is configured toreleasably lock the mechanical joint. The method can further includeadvancing, as a result of the first output, an expandable part of thepin driving assembly into the mechanical joint and expanding, as aresult of the first output, the expandable part in the mechanical jointto thereby lock the mechanical joint. In some variations, the method canfurther include actuating the actuation assembly to provide a secondoutput and collapsing, as a result of the second output, the expandablepart in the mechanical joint. The method can further include retracting,as a result of the second output, the expandable part from themechanical joint thereby unlocking the mechanical joint. In somevariations, the method can include disengaging, as a result of theadvancing, a detent feature of the pin driving assembly to allow theexpanding and engaging, as a result of the retracting, the detentfeature to allow the collapsing.

The details of one or more variations of the subject matter describedherein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the descriptionbelow. Other features and advantages of the subject matter describedherein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from theclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matterdisclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain someof the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In thedrawings,

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of an aircraft having deployablewings;

FIG. 1B illustrates a partial view of an embodiment of an expanding pinsystem consistent with implementations of the current subject matteroperably coupled to a wing joint of the aircraft for releasably securinga deployable wing of the aircraft in a deployed position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section side view of an embodiment of theexpanding pin system including an actuation assembly operably coupled toa pin driving assembly with the pin driving assembly including a driveassembly coupled to an expanding pin assembly;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section perspective view of the driveassembly of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section perspective view of the expanding pinassembly of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5A illustrates a method of use of the expanding pin assembly ofFIG. 2 , including inserting a mating part into an opening of a housingof the expanding pin assembly;

FIG. 5B illustrates a method of use of the expanding pin assembly ofFIG. 2 , including approximately aligning a mating part through-hole ofthe mating part with at least a shear pin of the expanding pin assembly;

FIG. 5C illustrates a method of use of the expanding pin assembly ofFIG. 2 , including actuating the actuation assembly to cause the shearpin to advance through the mating part through-hole of the mating part;and

FIG. 5D illustrates a method of use of the expanding pin assembly ofFIG. 2 , including expanding the expandable features along the shear pinto precisely align the mating part to the housing and lock an associatedmechanical joint.

When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures,features, or elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide anoverall understanding of the principles of the structure, function,manufacture, and use of the systems, devices, and methods disclosedherein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that thesystems, devices, and methods specifically described herein andillustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplaryembodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined bythe claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with oneexemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of otherembodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to beincluded within the scope of the present invention. Further, in thepresent disclosure, like-named components of the embodiments generallyhave similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment eachfeature of each like-named component is not necessarily fully elaboratedupon.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for automated and/or powercontrolled locking and unlocking of an expanding pin assembly in amechanical joint. While current technology requires manual control of anexpanding pin to lock and/or unlock a mechanical joint, the devices,systems, and methods disclosed herein allow an actuation assembly, whichcan include a single actuator (e.g., motor), to control an expanding pinassembly for locking and unlocking a mechanical joint.

In one exemplary embodiment, an expanding pin system is provided forcontrolling the locking and unlocking of a mechanical joint (e.g.,single or double shear joint). The expanding pin system can include apin driving assembly that is operably controlled by an actuationassembly and a drive assembly. When actuated, the actuation assembly cancause the drive assembly to advance and expand the pin driving assemblyin the mechanical joint to thereby lock the mechanical joint or contractand retract the pin driving assembly from the mechanical joint tothereby unlock the mechanical joint. As such, the expanding pin systemdescribed herein does not rely on human interaction and control forlocking or unlocking a mechanical joint thereby improving efficiency andremoving human error. Other embodiments are within the scope of thedisclosed subject matter.

FIG. 1A illustrates an aircraft 100 having deployable wings 102extending from an aircraft body 103. Each of the deployable wings 102can form a deployed position, as shown in FIG. 1A, and a retractedposition relative to the aircraft body 103. For example, the deployablewings 102 can allow the aircraft 100 to be stored in a smallercompartment when the deployable wings 102 are in the retracted position.Furthermore, when in the deployed position, the deployable wings 102 canallow the aircraft 100 to fly. In some instances, the deployable wings102 are deployed and retracted more than one time such that it isbeneficial to allow the deployable wings 102 to be releasably secured ineither the deployed or retracted position.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a wing joint 104 can allow a respective deployablewing 102 to move between the deployed and retracted positions. Due tothe importance of the structural integrity of the deployable wings 102when in the deployed position, particularly during flight, the wingjoints 104 need to be secured such that the deployable wings 102 aresecurely maintained in the deployed position. However, it is alsobeneficial to efficiently release the wing joints 104 to allow for thedeployable wings 102 to be moved into the retracted position, such asfor storage of the aircraft 100.

FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of an expanding pin system 110operably coupled to the wing joint 104 of the aircraft 100 forreleasably securing the associated deployable wing 102 in the deployedposition. As will be described in greater detail below, the expandingpin system 110 can lock and unlock the wing joint 104 without humaninteraction thereby improving the efficiency of securing the deployablewings 102 in the deployed position, as well as improving the efficiencyof releasing the deployable wings 102 into the retracted position.Although the expanding pin system 110 is shown and described herein asbeing used in an aircraft having deployable wings, the expanding pinsystem 110 can be used in any number of a variety of systems and deviceshaving a mechanical joint that can benefit from being releasably locked.For example, the expanding pin system can be used in aircraft structuraldoors and hatches.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of theexpanding pin system 210 including an actuation assembly 212 that isoperably coupled to a pin driving assembly 214. The pin driving assembly214 can include a drive assembly 216 that extends and secures anexpanding pin assembly 218 in a mechanical joint (e.g., the wing joint104) for locking the mechanical joint. The drive assembly 216 can alsounsecure and retract the expanding pin assembly 218 from the mechanicaljoint to thereby unlock the mechanical joint, as will be described ingreater detail below. As shown in FIG. 2 , the actuation assembly 212can include an actuator 220 that is operably coupled to an actuationcoupler 222 (e.g., a pinion, lever, etc.). Any number of a variety ofactuators 220 can be included, such as DC brush motors, DC brushlessmotors, stepper motors, AC motors, or rotary hydraulic actuators withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. The actuation coupler 222can be operably coupled to the pin driving assembly 214 such thatactuation of the actuator 220 can cause the actuation coupler 222 todrive the pin driving assembly 214 thereby locking or unlocking theexpanding pin assembly 218 in a mechanical joint.

In some embodiments, the pin driving assembly 214 can include a housing224 that includes an inner chamber 226 sized and shaped to contain thedrive assembly 216 and expanding pin assembly 218, as shown in FIG. 2 .For example, the inner chamber 226 can have a tubular shape, however,the inner chamber 226 can have any of a variety of shapes. As shown inFIG. 2 , the housing 224 can include an opening 228 that extends throughan outer wall and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing224. The opening 228 can be configured to allow a mating part 230 of themechanical joint to extend into the housing 224. In someimplementations, when the mating part 230 extends through the opening228 and into the housing 224, the mating part 230 can be securelycoupled to the expanding pin system 210 thereby locking the associatedmechanical joint.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the expanding pin assembly 218 canextend along the longitudinal axis of the housing 224 such that when themating part 230 extends through the opening 228 and into the housing224, the expanding pin assembly 218 can be advanced into and expandwithin a mating part though-hole 231 of the mating part 230. This canlock the mating part 230 relative to the housing 224 thereby locking themechanical joint. In some implementations, the housing 224 can be partof the overall device or system to which the expanding pin system 210 isa part of. For example, the housing can be a part of the deployable wing102 of the aircraft 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section view of the drive assembly 216, whichincludes a carrier 232 having an elongated tubular body. In someimplementations, an outer surface 234 of a proximal end of the carrier232 can include one or more engaging features (e.g., threads, splines)that can engage with complimenting engaging features along the actuationcoupler 222. Such engagement between the actuation coupler 222 and thecarrier 232 can allow the actuation coupler 222 to cause the carrier 232to rotate upon actuation of the actuator 220.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the drive assembly 216 can include a ring gear 236having a tubular shape and positioned around a distal end of the carrier232. At least one bearing 238 can be positioned between the carrier 232and the ring gear 236, such as a proximal and distal pair of bearings238. The bearings 238 can assist with axially aligning the ring gear 236relative to the distal end of the carrier 232 and transferringrotational movement of the carrier 232 to the ring gear 236 therebycausing the ring gear 236 to rotate. The drive assembly 216 can furtherinclude a sun gear 244 having a tubular shape and positioned within thecarrier 232. At least one bearing 238 can be positioned between the sungear 244 and the carrier 232 to assist with axially aligning the sungear 244 relative to the carrier 232 and transferring rotationalmovement of the carrier 232 to the sun gear 244 thereby causing the sungear 244 to rotate. In some implementations, rotation of the sun gear244 is not allowed to occur at the same time the ring gear 236 rotates,and vice versa. As will be described in greater detail below, one ormore features of the expanding pin system 210 can assist withcontrolling whether the sun gear 244 or ring gear 236 can rotate therebyassisting with the locking and unlocking of the mechanical joint.

In some implementations, an outer surface 240 of the ring gear 236 caninclude threads that can threadably engage complimenting threads alongan inner surface of the inner chamber 226 of the housing 224. As such,rotation of the ring gear 236 due to rotation of the carrier 232 cancause translation of both the carrier 232 and ring gear 236 along thelongitudinal axis of the housing. Furthermore, such translation of thecarrier 232 and ring gear 236 can also translate the entire driveassembly 216 and expanding pin assembly 218 within the housing 224. Thiscan assist with distally advancing the expanding pin assembly 218 forlocking the mechanical joint, as well as proximally retracting theexpanding pin assembly 218 for unlocking the mechanical joint, as willbe described in greater detail below.

In some implementations, when the actuation assembly 212 is actuated tocause the actuation coupler 222 to provide a first output (e.g.,rotation of a pinion gear in a first direction), the drive assembly 216and expanding pin assembly 218 can be caused to travel a distance alongthe housing in the distal direction. In addition, when the actuationassembly 212 is actuated to cause the actuation coupler 222 to provide asecond output (e.g., rotation of the pinion gear in a second direction),the drive assembly 216 and expanding pin assembly 218 can be caused totravel the same distance along the housing in the proximal direction.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the expanding pin assembly 218 can include a shearpin 250 having an elongated tubular shape with a first inner chamber 251and a second inner chamber 253 that are in communication with eachother. The expanding pin assembly 218 can further include a plunger 252having a head 254 and an elongated shaft 256, which can extend distallyfrom the head 254. The head 254 can be sized and shaped to have asliding engagement with the first inner chamber 251 of the shear pin250, and the shaft 256 can be sized and shaped to have a slidingengagement with the second inner chamber 253 of the shear pin 250. Theplunger 252 can include a recess 260 along an outer surface of the head254 and an extruded lip 262 at a proximal end of the head 254. As shownin FIG. 4 , the expanding pin assembly 218 can include a biasing member258, such as a spring, that biases the plunger 252 to a distal positionwhere a distal end of the head 254 of the plunger 252 contacts a distalend of the first inner chamber 251.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the shear pin 250 can include at least one detentopening 264 that allows at least one detent feature 266 (e.g., aspherical ball) to travel therethrough. As shown in FIG. 2 , the detentfeature 266 can extend through the detent opening 264 when the plunger252 is in the distal position. In this position, the extruded lip 262 ofthe plunger 252 can push the detent feature 266 through the detentopening 264 such that a part of the detent feature 266 extends out froman outer surface of the shear pin 250. When the plunger 252 is caused tomove proximally away from the distal position, the detent feature 266can depress into the detent opening 264 as the detent feature 266 isallowed to contact the recess 260 of the head 254 of the plunger 252. Insome implementations, a force can be applied to the plunger 252 to causethe plunger 252 to move proximally thereby depressing the detent feature266. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , a pin 257 that is aligned with adistal end of the shaft 256 of the plunger 252 can apply the force tothe distal end of the shaft 256 when the expanding pin assembly 218 hassufficiently advanced in the distal direction to thereby cause theplunger 252 to move proximally and the detent feature 266 to becomedepressed, as will be described in greater detail below.

As shown in FIG. 2 , when the detent feature 266 is in contact with theextruded lip 262, the detent feature 266 can engage a detent recess 270along an inner surface of the sun gear 244 thereby preventing rotationof the sun gear 244 and translation of the shear pin 250 relative to thesun gear 244. When the detent feature 266 is in contact with the recess260 of the head 254 of the plunger 252, the detent feature 266 no longerengages the detent recess 270 in the sun gear 244 thereby allowingrotation of the sun gear 244 and translation of the shear pin 250relative to the sun gear 244. As will be discussed in greater detailbelow, by allowing the shear pin 250 to translate proximally relative tothe sun gear 244, a collar 273 positioned along an outer surface of theshear pin 250 and distal to the sun gear 244 can be caused to distallyadvance along the shear pin 250. Such distal translation of the collar273 along the shear pin 250 can cause one or more expandable features272 (e.g., bushings) positioned along the outer surface of a distal endof the shear pin 250 to expand (e.g., due to being compressed betweenthe collar 273 and a distal end of the shear pin 250). Subsequentproximal translation of the collar 273 along the shear pin (when theshear pin 250 translates distally relative to the sun gear 244) cancause the one or more expandable features 272 to contract. Suchexpanding and contracting of the expandable features can assist withlocking and unlocking, respectively, the mechanical joint. For example,expansion of the expandable features (e.g., radial expansion) within themechanical joint can create precise alignment between the mating part230 and the housing 224 and can eliminate clearances in the mechanicaljoint. In some embodiments, the expandable features 272 can includewedge-shaped split collars that expand around inner wedge-shaped collars279. In the expanded state, the expandable features 272 can create aforce against an inner wall of either the mating part through-hole 231or locking channel 225 to assists with locking the position of themating part relative to the housing 224. In some implementations, theshear pin 250 can be made out of a high strength steel and theexpandable features 272 can be made out of a high strength steel that islubricated for low friction (e.g., dry film, grease, etc.), however,other materials are within the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore,although the detent feature 266 is shown as a spherical ball, any numberof a variety of features can be included in the expanding pin assembly218 for controlling relative axial movement between the sun gear 244 andthe shear pin 250 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3 , the sun gear 244 can have a tubular shape andextend around a part of the shear pin 250. An inner surface 246 of thesun gear 244 can include inner threads that engage outer threads alongan outer surface of the shear pin 250. As such, when the drive assembly216 travels to the end of the inner chamber 226, the pin 257 can forcethe plunger 252 in the proximal direction thereby causing the detentfeature 266 to depress into the shear pin 250 and allowing the sun gear244 to rotate as the carrier 232 continues to rotate. Furthermore, dueto the threaded engagement between the sun gear 244 and the shear pin250, rotation of the sun gear 244 can cause the shear pin 250, which canbe prevented from rotating, to translate and assist with expanding orretracting the expandable features 272.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , the pin driving assembly 214can include an anti-rotation feature 275 that is secured relative to thehousing 224 and to the shear pin 250 such that the anti-rotation feature275 prevents rotation of the shear pin 250 relative to the housing 224while allowing translation of the shear pin 250 relative to the housing224. For example, the anti-rotation feature 275 can include an elongateshaft having a shaped profile (e.g., square, hexagonal, spline, etc.)that engages complimenting shaped openings in the housing 224 and shearpin 250. The anti-rotation feature 275 can include any number of avariety of shapes and profiles for preventing rotation of the shear pin250 relative to the housing 224 without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure.

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate an example method of use of the expanding pinsystem 210 to lock the mating part 230 to the housing 244 therebylocking the associated mechanical joint. As shown in FIG. 5A, theexpanding pin assembly 218 can start in an unlocked position to allowthe mating part 230 to be advanced into the opening 228 of the housing224. In the unlocked position, the shear pin 250 can be positioned suchthat it does not intersect the opening 228. This can allow the matingpart 230 to be positioned in the housing and intersect a longitudinalaxis of the shear pin 250, as shown in FIG. 5B. As also shown in FIG.5B, the mating part 230 can include a mating part through-hole 231 thatcan be aligned with at least the shear pin 250. The housing 224 caninclude a locking channel 225 that is aligned with the shear pin 250 andintersects the opening 228 such that when the mating part 230 ispositioned in the housing 224, the locking channel 225, mating partthrough-hole 231, and shear pin 250 can be approximately aligned, asshown in FIG. 5B. Once approximately aligned, the actuation assembly 212can be actuated to lock the mechanical joint, as will be described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 5C and 5D.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the actuation assembly 212 can be actuated suchthat the actuator 220 causes the actuation coupler 222 to provide thefirst output thereby causing the carrier 232 to rotate in the firstdirection. As discussed above, rotation of the carrier 232 in the firstdirection can cause the ring gear 236 to rotate and threadably engagethe inner chamber 226 of the housing 224 to thereby advance the driveassembly 216 and expanding pin assembly 218 in the distal direction, asshown in FIG. 5C. As the expanding pin assembly 218 advances in thedistal direction, the distal end of the shear pin 250 having theexpandable features 272 can be advanced along the locking channel 225and through the mating part through-hole 231. The ring gear 236 cancontinue to be rotated by the rotating carrier 232 until, for example,the distal end of the drive assembly 216 reaches the distal end of theinner chamber 226 thereby preventing further travel of the driveassembly 216 in the distal direction. In this position, the ring gear236 can be prevented from rotating due to the threaded engagementbetween the ring gear and the housing and the inability to furthertravel distally. Furthermore, in this position, the pin 257 can beengaged with a distal end of the expanding pin assembly such that thepin 257 applies a force to a distal end of the plunger 252 therebyproximally moving the plunger and releasing the detent feature 266(e.g., detent feature 266 depressed into shear pin 250). At this state,continued rotation of the carrier 232 in the first direction causesrotation of the sun gear 244 due to the released detent feature 266, asshown in FIG. 5D. As discussed above, the sun gear 244 can be threadablyengaged with the shear pin 250, which is rotationally restrained by ananti-rotation feature 275, such that rotation of the sun gear 244 whenthe detent feature 266 is released can cause the shear pin 250 tolongitudinally translate.

As shown in FIG. 5D, when the actuation assembly 212 is actuated forlocking the mechanical joint (e.g., the actuation coupler 222 provides afirst output), the sun gear 244 can be caused to rotate in a directionthat translates the shear pin 250 relative to the sun gear 244 and inthe proximal direction. A collar 273 positioned proximal to theexpandable features 272 and distal to the sun gear 244 can be preventedfrom moving in the proximal direction along with the shear pin 250(e.g., due to the sun gear 244 remaining stationary as the shear pin 250proximally translates) thereby moving the collar 273 distally along theshear pin 250 and causing expansion (e.g., radial expansion) of theexpandable features 272. The expandable features 272 can be positionedsuch that expansion of the expandable features 272 can precisely alignthe mating part 230 relative to the housing 224 and securely lock themechanical joint.

After the expandable features 272 have been properly expanded to lockthe mechanical joint, the actuation assembly 212 can be deactivated. Insome implementations, for example, de-activation of the actuationassembly 212 can be based on a sensed torque in the actuator 220 orafter a defined number of rotations of the actuator 220 (e.g., measuredby a resolver). Other parameters can be used to determine when todeactivate the actuation assembly 212 without departing from the scopeof this disclosure.

To unlock the mechanical joint, the actuation assembly 212 can beactivated to cause the actuation coupler 222 to provide a second outputthereby causing the carrier 232 to rotate in the second direction.Rotation of the carrier 232 in the second direction can cause the sungear 244 to rotate to cause the shear pin 250 to move distally therebyradially contracting the expandable features 272 as a result of thecollar 273 moving proximally along the shear pin 250. Continued rotationof the carrier 232 in the second direction can cause the ring gear 236to rotate and travel in the proximal direction (e.g., due to threadableengagement between the ring gear 236 and the inner chamber 226 of thehousing 224) thereby causing the drive assembly 216 and the expandingpin assembly 218 to travel in the proximal direction. This can cause theshear pin 250 to retract from the mating part through-hole 231 and allowthe mating part 230 to move relative to the housing 224, includingretracting from the opening 228 in the housing 224. Additionally,proximal translation of the expanding pin assembly 218 can disengage thepin 257 from the distal end of the expanding pin assembly 218 therebyallowing the plunger 252 to return to the distal position and re-engagethe detent feature 266 with the sun gear 244. The extruded lip 262 ofthe head 254 of the plunger 252 can include an angled end thatencourages the detent feature into the engaged position. Such lockingand unlocking of the mechanical joint can be performed any number oftimes using the expanding pin system.

In some embodiments, the expanding pin system 210 can include a motorvelocity command. For example, a motor of the actuation assembly 212 candraw as much current as is required, up to a limit, to complete theinsertion and expansion of the expanding pin assembly 218 (e.g., lockthe mechanical joint). In some embodiments, a resolver can count therevolutions of the motor, which can be compared (e.g., using a processorof a computing device) to an estimated location of the shear pin 250relative to the mechanical joint and expansion pre-load. This can becompared to the current drawing of the motor to determine torque andpre-load based on amount of expansion of the expandable features 272.

In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as “at leastone of” or “one or more of” may occur followed by a conjunctive list ofelements or features. The term “and/or” may also occur in a list of twoor more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitlycontradicted by the context in which it is used, such a phrase isintended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually orany of the recited elements or features in combination with any of theother recited elements or features. For example, the phrases “at leastone of A and B;” “one or more of A and B;” and “A and/or B” are eachintended to mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similarinterpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items.For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C;” “one or more ofA, B, and C;” and “A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, orA and B and C together.” Use of the term “based on,” above and in theclaims is intended to mean, “based at least in part on,” such that anunrecited feature or element is also permissible.

The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do notrepresent all implementations consistent with the subject matterdescribed herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent withaspects related to the described subject matter. Although a fewvariations have been described in detail herein, other modifications oradditions are possible. In particular, further features and/orvariations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. Forexample, the implementations described above can be directed to variouscombinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/orcombinations and sub-combinations of one or more features further tothose disclosed herein. In addition, the logic flows depicted in theaccompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily requirethe particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. The scope of the following claims may include otherimplementations or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. An expanding pin system for releasably locking amechanical joint associated with a deployable wing of an aircraft forreleasably securing the deployable wing in a deployed position, theexpanding pin system, comprising: an actuation assembly configured toprovide a first output for locking the mechanical joint and a secondoutput for unlocking the mechanical joint; and a pin driving assemblyoperably coupled to the actuation assembly, the pin driving assemblycomprising: a drive assembly operably coupled to a housing, the driveassembly comprising: a carrier operably coupled to the actuationassembly such that actuation of the actuation assembly to provide thefirst output causes the carrier to translate a first distance towardsthe mechanical joint; and a ring gear operably coupled to the carriersuch that rotational movement of the carrier causes rotational movementof the ring gear, the ring gear being operably coupled to the housingsuch that rotation of the ring gear causes translation of the driveassembly relative to the housing; and an expanding pin assembly operablycoupled to the drive assembly such that the expanding pin assemblytranslates the first distance with the carrier thereby advancing anexpandable part of the expanding pin assembly across at least a part ofthe mechanical joint for locking the mechanical joint as a result of theexpandable part being expanded.
 2. The expanding pin system of claim 1,further comprising a sun gear operably coupled to the carrier such thatthe sun gear is caused to rotate in a first direction after the carriertranslates the first distance, the expandable part being caused toexpand when the sun gear rotates in the first direction.
 3. Theexpanding pin system of claim 2, wherein the sun gear is configured torotate in a second direction when the actuation assembly is actuated toprovide the second output to thereby cause the expandable part tocontract.
 4. The expanding pin system of claim 2, wherein the expandingpin assembly further includes a shear pin that is rotationallyrestricted and threadably engaged with the sun gear such that rotationof the sun gear causes translation of the shear pin, the expandable partbeing positioned along a distal end of the shear pin.
 5. The expandingpin system of claim 4, wherein translation of the shear pin in aproximal direction relative to the sun gear causes the expandable partto expand, and wherein translation of the shear pin in a distaldirection relative to the sun gear causes the expandable part tocontract.
 6. The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein the carrier isconfigured to translate along the housing and retract the expandablepart from the mechanical joint when the actuation assembly is actuatedto provide the second output.
 7. The expanding pin system of claim 1,wherein the actuation assembly includes one or more of a DC brush motor,a DC brushless motor, a stepper motor, an AC motor, and a rotaryhydraulic actuator.
 8. The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein thepin driving assembly further includes a detent feature that, when in anengaged position, is operatively coupled to both the drive assembly andthe expanding pin assembly to thereby restrict translation of theexpanding pin assembly relative to the drive assembly.
 9. The expandingpin system of claim 8, wherein the detent feature, when in a disengagedposition, is uncoupled from the drive assembly to thereby allowtranslation of the expanding pin assembly relative to the driveassembly.
 10. The expanding pin system of claim 9, wherein the pindriving assembly further includes a plunger that is biased in a distalposition within the pin driving assembly thereby causing the detentfeature to be in the engaged position, and wherein the plunger causesthe detent feature to be in the disengaged position when forced in aproximal position.
 11. The expanding pin system of claim 10, wherein thehousing further includes a pin aligned with a distal end of the plunger,and wherein the pin is configured to force the plunger from the distalposition to the proximal position when the pin driving assembly engagesthe pin during distal translation of the pin driving assembly.
 12. Anexpanding pin system for releasably locking a mechanical jointassociated with a deployable wing of an aircraft for releasably securingthe deployable wing in a deployed position, the expanding pin system,comprising: an actuation assembly configured to provide a first outputfor locking the mechanical joint and a second output for unlocking themechanical joint; and a pin driving assembly operably coupled to theactuation assembly, the pin driving assembly comprising: a driveassembly comprising a carrier operably coupled to the actuation assemblysuch that the carrier translates a first distance towards the mechanicaljoint when the actuation assembly is actuated to provide the firstoutput; and an expanding pin assembly operably coupled to the driveassembly such that the expanding pin assembly translates the firstdistance with the carrier thereby advancing an expandable part of theexpanding pin assembly across at least a part of the mechanical jointfor locking the mechanical joint upon expansion of the expandable part,the expanding pin assembly comprising: a plunger biased in a firstposition within the pin driving assembly thereby causing a detentfeature to restrict translation of the expanding pin assembly relativeto the drive assembly, and wherein the plunger, when forced into asecond position, causes the detent feature to allow translation of theexpanding pin assembly relative to the drive assembly.
 13. The expandingpin system of claim 12, further comprising a sun gear operably coupledto the carrier such that the sun gear is caused to rotate in a firstdirection after the carrier translates the first distance, theexpandable part being caused to expand when the sun gear rotates in thefirst direction.
 14. The expanding pin system of claim 13, wherein thesun gear is configured to rotate in a second direction when theactuation assembly is actuated to provide the second output to therebycause the expandable part to contract, and wherein the carrier isconfigured to translate along the housing and retract the expandablepart from the mechanical joint when the actuation assembly is actuatedto provide the second output.
 15. The expanding pin system of claim 13,wherein the expanding pin assembly further includes a shear pin that isrotationally restricted and threadably engaged with the sun gear suchthat rotation of the sun gear causes translation of the shear pin, theexpandable part being positioned along a distal end of the shear pin.16. The expanding pin system of claim 15, wherein translation of theshear pin in a proximal direction relative to the sun gear causes theexpandable part to expand, and wherein translation of the shear pin in adistal direction relative to the sun gear causes the expandable part tocontract.
 17. The expanding pin system of claim 12, wherein the carrieris configured to translate away from the mechanical joint and retractthe expandable part from the mechanical joint when the actuationassembly is actuated to provide the second output.
 18. The expanding pinsystem of claim 12, wherein the actuation assembly includes one or moreof a DC brush motor, a DC brushless motor, a stepper motor, an AC motor,and a rotary hydraulic actuator.
 19. The expanding pin system of claim12, further comprising a pin aligned with a distal end of the plunger,the pin configured to force the plunger from the first position to thesecond position when the pin driving assembly engages the pin duringdistal translation of the pin driving assembly.